Drying system.



C. R. WALKER.

DRYING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIOH mum we. 4. 1910.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"wanes 02o:

G. R. WALKER.

DRYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED we. 4, 1910.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 BHEETE-BXEBT 2.

q/vitme was 0. R. WALKER. DRYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4,1910.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wane ooeo Home G. R. WALKER.

DRYING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4. mm.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

Swvenm'a C M I a/04% $116118 Qvduc was air 6 (aw (W C. R. WALKER.

DRYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 19:0v

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.-

6 SHEETSSHEET 6,

QWMWO in which the material is dried in an atmosphere practically saturated with "he vapors with condensing means in order that they the material produced.

the apparatus, the to p'or roof. and the iil lfiilhl hi idliffifiiilid li riflliilidil @FFICE.

CHARLES R. VIALKER. 0F NEWBUBGH. NEW YORK.

DRYING SYSTEHI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

Application filed August 4, 1910. Serial No. 575,480

v invention relates to improvements in drying systems and more to terns forjlzo drying of coated fabrics and the like, and is especially adapted to the drying; out of solvents from imitation leather and recovering these solvents.

Various objects of my invention are to provide an improved system and process whereby the material may be thoroughly dried and will be of much betior quality than has been able to be obtziincd heretofore with other systems; to provide :1 system in which the volume oi vaporized solvents is reduced tqn minimum, thus do (rousing ths'liahility' of'oxplosions and decreasing the darn-rage done in an explosion siuiuld occur; to provide a system given oil' and is so construclod and arranged that an efficient flow is obtained and the vaporized solvcuis are brought into contact may be recovered.

A, further obicot of my invention is; to provide means for the. admission of air or a similar gas or gases, at tho proper point. to afloat the, How of and quality of l urfhcr ,oh cots, features and odvanta es will misc c arlv appear from the do drscription in :n below, taken in COHIRQW tion with the accompanying drawings wh' rm a part oi this specification and Whicn show onemrefirrcd embodiment of my in volition/1 in the s, Figure l. is a front end View of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical, cro; ssection thereof, taken on the line U ll of Fig. 3- is a plnn View of fabric bring removed or broken away; Fig. 4 is a. Slin lur new, but with the upper set of l: sting v als And the nitcrvcnl non rcni 1; Fig 6 is a side view of the condr-nscr side of the apparatus, the side wall of the apparatus being removed; Fig. 7 is a side view of the apparatus from the side oppositc the condenser means; Fig. 8 is a. detailed view of the pipe for admitting air to the drylng apparatus; Fig. 9 is an end view of the part shown in Flg. 8,

looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 10 is a sectional detail of the roof construction andFig. ll is a, side View of parts shown in Fig. 10. looking in the direction of the arrow.

eferring to the various figures l, 1, 1, 1, represent suitable uprights for supporting a chambc 3, in which the drying operation is carried out The chamber 2 is provided with end walls and 4 provided with narrow apertures 6 therein, for the entrance and exit of the imitation leather fabric 7.

At the front of the machine is rovided a roll 8 for guiding the fabric into the chamhcr and at the exit end of the apparatus there is provided a roll 9 for prop- 1 1 iding the fabric from the apparatus.

The chamber 2 is provided with a short side wall 10 on one side of the apparatus and with a bottom 11 made of suitable heat insulating material. Just above the bottom 11, is situated a set of heating coils 12, cxtending substantially the whole length of the chamber as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The heating medium for those coils may he eithor steam or hot voter or other suitable medium, and en ers through the pipe 131:0 the junction 1-2, whence it splits, part going to one side set of coils 12 and part to the other i e set of coils 12. The medium in thcsc scis of coils 12, after tra"ersion; the vcrious coils asses out of the a parutus throncgh the pipes 15,21nd 16 and is carried away in any suitable manner. Just c love those heating coils 12 is placed :1 partition 17. preferably of metal or some suitable heat conducting material. Upon the partition or floor 17 are placed a number of transverse ribs or bearlng members '18. upon which the fabric 7 rests as itpasses through the chamber 2.

19 reprcssnts EL series of heat insulating walls dividing the chamber 2 up into a series oi compartments or purposes which wili be hereinafter 'acribed. Each Wall 19 i .t suitable pening: therethrough large enough to properly permit the labric 7 to pass therethrough from one compartment to another. At the outer or exit end of the machine there is provided means such as a driving roll 20, which co operates with the roll 9 through the apparatus.

Lying in the"bottom.-of each of the com partments formed b the walls 19, is a. set of heating coils 21. lhese are clearl shown "in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The heating uid enters each of these coils by means of a pi e 22 connecting with two pipes 23 and 24. ipes 23 and 24 are provided with sto cocks 25,

'so that steam may be admitted t irough one and hot water may be admitted through the other of the pipes 23 and 24. That is, the

stop cocks 25 may be adjusted for the admis- Looking at Figs. 1, '2, 3 and. 4, at the left hand side of the apparatus is shown a wall 28, made of suitable heat insulating material and extending a short distance above the fabric 7. A sloping wall 29,- preferably of metal, having its upper end adjacent the top of the wall 28, inclines downwardly to a point 30. From this point a wall 31 extends downwardly form the r1 ht hand side of the condenser chamber. l he left hand side of the wall of the condenser chamber is indicated-by the numeral 32 and extends vertically up to the roof. of the chamber 2. Lying within the condenser chamber between the walls 29 and 32 is a series of condensing coils 34, which extendsubstantially the whole length of the chamber 2. Water or any other cooling fluid is admitted to the coils 34 through a pipe 35 and is drawn off through a pipe 36. It is noted that some- 0f the condensing coils 34 lie above the top of the heat insulating wall 28, and therefore the condensing means may be said to extend materially above the wall 28. The advantages of this feature will be more clearly pointed out hereinafter :1 {Below the coils 34 and situated below the constricted portion of the condensing-chamber, between the Walls 31 and 32, is a plurality of sets/of condensing coils 37,- one set for each of the compartments formed by the heat insulating walls 19. Q-Eac'h set of condensing coils 37 is provided with aninlet pipe 38, supplied from a'mam p1pe 39. The coils 37 are provided with exit pipes 40 provided with shut-oil to draw the fabrih having its 0t vwith respect to one another.

and the two walls 29and 31- valves 41. Jalves 42 are also included in the supply pipes 38. Situated at'the bot-tom of the condensing chamber is a series of pans 43, one corres ending to cache). the compartments. T e se pans are for the pur ose of collecting thccondensate from the coi s 34 and 37 and each is provided with a suitable outlet 44'provided with a valve 45. Below the outlet pipes 44 are arranged kegs or other-suitable receptacles 43, for receiving the 'condenscd solvents.

Atthe right of the chamber 2, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5and 7, there is provided a longitudinal pipe-47, arranged to be rotatable in a bearing 48 at one end of the machine and having a bearing-at the front of the machine in the end wall 3. At the front of the machine a reducer 49 is screwed on to the pipe 47 and at the other end of the machine the pipe 47 is blocked 'up by a member 50. See Figs. 8 and 9. Connected with the cou ling 49 is apiece of pipe 51, her end connected with a coupling member 52, which also has connected thereto a pipe 53. A handle 54 is suitably secured to the coupling member 49, so that pipe 47 may be easily adjusted in any desired position. Air or other suitable is admitted through the pipe 53 and'thence to the pipe 47, where it is stored. The pipe is rigid and when the coupling member 52 is tightened up it also holds the coupling 49 and pipe 47 substantially rigid, the members 51, 49 and 47 being at all times rigid By loosening the coupling nut 52 the handle 54 may then be turned, thus slightly rotating the pipe 47 to any desired position, after which the coupling nut 52 may be tightened up, thus maim taining the pipe 47 in this desired position. The pipe 47 is provided with a series of small apertures 55 therein, out of. which air or other gas is emitted fromthe pipe 47 into the compartments of the chamber 2; These apertures 55 are preferably made about of an'in'ch in diameter and placed about 3 inches apart. The air or other medium ejected from the pipe47 is prefer ably directed across or transversely to the fabric 7, and is given a slight upward direc tion as indicated. by the arrow 56 in Fig. 2.

The roof 33 of the apparatus is preferably constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11. A suitable frame is provided with inverted T-beams 57 and upon the lateral flanges of these beams are laid sheets 58, preferably metallic. These sheets 58 extend from one side of the apparatus to the other over the chamber 2 and condensing coils 34. The joints between the sheets 58 and the inverted T-beams 57 are preferably cemented up as shown at 59 in F igs. l0 and 1]. In this manner a substantially air tight roof is formed, yet; in case. of an explosion of gases within the apparatus the plates and.

cemented joints of the roof will readily give way, thus allowing the roofto he lifted up wardlv and giving freedom to the exploded gases so that a minimum amount of damage will be done.

In general, the operation of my im ')roved system and apparatus is as follows: The fabric 7 is slowly passed through the apparatus in the direction indicated by the arrows. The heating coils 12 are supplied with suitable heating medium so that they will tend to produce a comparatively low uniform temperature throughout the length of the chamber 2. For this purpose either steam, hotwater or other suitable material may be used. The heating coils 21 are also supplied with heating fluid, butare so regulated that those at the front of the machine will produce a much less heating effect than the others. These coils increase the temperature intended to be produced by the lower coils 12 and produce different temperatures in each of the compartments formed by the walls 19. Thus, as the fabric enters the first compartment, it is subjected to a relatively low temperature, but as it proceeds from compartment to co1npartment, the temperature of the fabric is gradually increased so that it passes through zones of gradually increasing temperatures, until it finally reaches the exit end of the chamber 2 and is drawn out of it by means, such as the rolls 9 and 20.

above pointed out, I have particularly devised my improvements with respect to the drying of imitation leather and in such systems the fabric enters the apparatus containing a large amount of solvents which it is desired to dry out and recover if possible. As the fabric 7 passes through the various compartments, the solvents with the lower boiling points are given off near the en trance end of the apparatus, the solvents of a somewhat higher boiling point or points are given 01f near the center of the I After being evaporated from the fabric, the

solvents come into contact with the corn densing coils 34, whence substantially all of the solvents are condensed, and drip downwardly and are collected by the pans 43, from which they are carried into the re ceptacles 46 by means of the pipes 44-.

The coils 34 are so designed that they will condense substantially all of the solvents given off in that part of the apparatus and the coils 37 are provided to prevent any rciivaporation of the solvents as they pass downwardly. Since some of the solvents are given off at higher temperatures than others, it is found desirable that the condensing means be divided into groups, as indicated by the sets of coils 37, so that the temperature of the condensing means in any compartment may be varied to suit the conditions of that particular compartment, thus the condensing portion of one compartment may be given a somewhat lower or higher temperature than that of other compartments by properly regulating the flow of cooling fluid through its condensing coils 37. This aids materially in the proper condensation of the various solvents and Vapors given off by material being dried.

I find it desirable'in getting an improved quality of material and also in causing or aiding the production of a proper How of the vapors in the chamber 2, to cause the admission of air or similar gases in Very small quantities at one side of the fabric. To this end the pipe 47 has been provided as above set forth. Air under a slight pressure is admitted to this pipe and flows out under a slight pressure through the openings 55 and in the general direction of the arrow 56 of Fig. 2. This causes the vapors given off. by the fabric 7 to be gradually moved toward the condenser coils 34 and thereby promotes proper flow of t-llt vapors. As above pointed out, the direction in which this air is emitted may be adjusted by slightly rotating the pipe 4 7. It is found to be advantageous if the air is directed in most any direction transversely of the fabric '7, but I. prefer to give it a slightly upward direction directly toward the condenser coils 3+1. The admission of this air or other is so small in amount that it does not materially decrease the saturation of the atmospliere, but the drying operation still continue; in a substantially saturated atmosphere. I find this desirable since a much better product is obtained which is substantially free from bubbles or pin holes. The passing of the fabric through zones of gradually increasing temperature is also conducive to the production of a fabric without bubbles, pin holes or blisters and, in general, to a fabric of much better quality.

As shown, some of the condenser coils 3t lie very materially above the heat insulating wall 28 and his is important since the vapors more readily and quickly come into contact with the coils 34, thereby causing immediate cci'idensation without loss of time or space. This adjustment of the coils 34 also tends to produce a slight vacuum at this point due to the condensation of the vapors. thereby aiding to a certain extent in p'mnoting th" nmveinmit of gases in the chamb r l al o pr vide the roof 33, in

in a general horizontal direction transverse to the movement of the material.

In a system for drying fabrics and the like, a suitable chamber, means for causing the fabric to be gradually moved through said chamber longitudinally, means for pro gressively heating the fabric as it pas es through the chamber and means for condensing the vapors given 0ft by said fabric.

6. In a system for drying coated fabrics, at suitable chamber, means for ausing the fabric to be gradually moved through said chamber longitudinally, means for pl'l')gl'BS-' sively heating the fabric as it passes through the chamber and means for ondensing the vapors given oti' by said ta brie, said condens ing means being divided into groups corre sponding to difi'erent stages of heating.

7. In a system for drying coated fabrics, a suitable chamber, means for causing the tab ric to be gradually moved through the chamber, means for heating the fabric as it passes through the chamber, and means for causing the vapors given off by the fabric to be taken to one side of the fabric, said chamber hav ing a roof inclined transversely to the direction of movement of the tabric to promote the movement of the vapors.

8. In a system of the class described, a suitable chamber. means for causingthe material to be gradually moved through said chamber in a substantially horizontal direction, means for heating the material it passes through the chamber, and means or causing the vapors given off by the material to be taken to one side of the material, said chamber having a roof inclining transversely of the movement of the material to promote the movement of the vapors.

9. In a. system for drying coated fabrics and similar material, a suitable chamber, means for causing the material to be gradually moved through said chamber in a sat stantially horizontal direction, means for heating the material it passes through the chamber and means for condensing the \apors given off by the material, said chamber havinga roof inclining tramwersely of the movement of the material to promote the movement of the vapors toward the t-ondens ing means.

10. In a system for drying coated fabrics. a suitable chamber, means for causing the fabric to he gradually moved through illtl chamber in a substantially horizontal direetion, means for heating the fabric it passes through the chamber a =-;l means at one side of the fabric. washer having a root inclining from r (lensing means downwardlv and tlttllr ersr:

of the movement of the fa u'h'" to the other side of the fabric.

11. In a system of the cla s dcsrribtil. a I

suitable chamber, means for raining the i material to be gradually IllttYtil through said chamber in a substantially horizontal direetion. means for heating the material as it pa -rs thr ugh the chandler and gradin ally ii s easing the temperature of the material as it progresses toward the exit end of the chamber and means for condo sing the vapors g nu oti' by the material, said than her having a roof inclining transverselv ot' the movement of the material to promote the movementof the vapors toward the condrns gmeans.

it. in a system of the clas described, a suitable chamber, means for causing the ma terial to be gradt ally passed through the tiizillltiel', eoademing means hwated in up tliltlV relation to said chamber. and a heat insulating \vall. arranged between the mate rial and condensing means. said condensing means lying above said all to promote the nmveinrnt of the vapors given oft bv the ma terial. I i

13, in a wynttfill for drying coated abrirs. a suitable chamber. means l'ot causing the fabric to be gradually PZlfiC-(tl through the rhanihev, nit-ans for heating the fabric and grmla altv inrreasing the temperature of the matmiat as it pasta-s through the chamber. condensing means hauled in operative relation to said chamber, and a heat insulating vall arranged between the fabric and contiensing means, said condensing means lving above aid all to promote thev movement of the va 'iors given off by the'i'ahric.

iii. In a s'vstem for drying coated fabrics, a suitable chamber divided into substan tially closed compartments, means for causmg the fabric to gradually pass through said :uparimcnts and means for applving dill.. it. degrees of heat to said compare nt-o so that the tenniwera'ture of the fabric is gradually inrreased as it progresses toa rd the ex t end of the chamber.

l5. in xstfilll for drying coated fabrics. a suita chamber, means tor causing the Fa ric to ".-"a d zally pass through said hain oer. rtmdensing means in onerative relation to said chamber. said coi'ldensing means beng divided into groups; eorrrsponding t diti'crent' positions oi the fabric.

Ytti. in a system of the class described, a -uitablc chamber. means tor causing the material to pass tlmrethrough in a horizontal dircrtion, mean for applying successively in \"ituhil 5 tittft' of' h at to the material as i s through the (hand rondensing means in op rative relat on to sir i chan'iber,

' having: 4

I tr i. z min. .'i;, 1 means won-ding more said circulation, said condensing ivided into grin h correspond ant wsitions of the material so or at vapors will be condensed at it iltl'is of the chamber, heat insubetweth the various groups, an T 17 In a systen'i of the class described the combination with the Walls forming a main chamber, relatively wide compared with its height, and relatively long as compared with its width, of a narrow flue facing the highest side wall substantially its whole length forming a condensing (hamber which at the vertical end of said line is enlarged and extends inwardly toward the center line of the main chamber, condensing pipes (X-- tendin above the upper end of the inner Wall ct said flue and means for heating said chamber.

18. In a system of the class described, a suitable chamber, means for causing the ma tcrial to be dried to pass gradually through the chamber, means for heating the material and gradually increasing the temperature thereof as it approaches the exit end of the chamber, and condensing means suitably located in respect to said chamber, said condensi'ng means being divided into groups corresponding to dill'ercnt positions of the material and said chamber having a root inclining upwardly toward the condenser to promote the movement of the vapors thereto,

19. In a system for drying coated fabrics, a suitable chamber, means for causing the fabric to be dried to gradually through the chamber, means for heating the fabric and gradually increasing the temperature thereof as it approaches the exit end of the chamber, condensing means suitably located 1 means transversely of the movement, off the in respwt LO said chamber, said coruilensing means being divided into groups corresponding to different positions of the fabric, and said chamber having a roof inclining upwardly toward the condenser to promote the. movement of the vapors thereto and a suitable wall between said fabric and condone ing means, and said condensing means lying above said wall to more quickly contact with the vapors and prointae the circulation thereof.

20. In a system of the class drs suitable chamber divider! into xiii closed compartments by host walls, means for canal 1 dried to pass gradually through the cl:=n::- er. means for limiting the material and grailaially increasing 1,

no tempo atone there of as it upprtmclws the exit end with-c ill-l5- lier, comleneing means suitab y located in respect to said chamber, said condensing means being divided into groups correspond mg the material to e emme ing to different positions of the material and said' chamber having a root inclining u wardly toward the condenser to promote t e movement of the vapors thereto and a suitable wall between said material and condensing means, and said condensing means extending materially above said wall to more quickly contact with the vapors and promote the movement thereof.

21. In a system of the class described, a relatively long shallow drying chamber. means for causing the material to be dried ,to pass gradually through said chamber, and condensing means operatively related to said chamber but lying Wholly at one side of said chamber, said chamber lowing a roof inclined transversely of the movement of the material and toward the condensing means to promote the movement of the vapors toward the condenser.

22. In a system for drying coated fabrics, a suitable chamber, means for causing the fabric to be dried to pass gradually through said chamber, condensing means operatively related to said chamber, said chamber having a roof inclined transversely of the movement of the fabric, and toward the condensing means to promote the movement of the vapors toward the condenser, and a Wall be tween said fabric and condensing means, said condensing means lyingabovc said wall for the purposes set forth.

23. in a system oi thev class icscribed, a suitabie chamber relatively Wide compared with its height midrelatively long as compared with itsavulth, means for causing the maicrial to gradually pass through said chan'iber, condensing means in operative relation to said chamber, and a wall bctu cen said material and condensing means, said condensing means lying above said all. and said ='-l:amber having a roof lining downwardly from said condensing 1393.. said material onilenslng means, said m in:

q t mow o. to,- "u ar l the condo l.

In an a; iiratus for the drying of coated fabrics, rectangular chamber, mcam For passing the coated fabric longitudinally thercthrough, a heater beneath the fabric. means for admitting air into the hamber at one side of the fabric, a heat ie l he dried to pass gradually through Field chamber, said chamber being divided into substantially closed compartments,

groans for heating the compartments and material an that the temperature of the radnally increases it passes towai d the exit end of the chamber and condensing in operative relation thereto, said condensing means being divided into groups corresponding to (litierent compartments.

2?. in a system of the claw described, a suitable chamber. means for causing the material to be. dried to pass gradually through said chamber, means for applying heat to the chamber and increasing the ten'iiicraturc of the material as it approaches thc exit end of the chamber, condensing i'ncrns opcra= tivclv related to said chamber, and a Wall between said condensing means and inatc rial, said condensing moans lying above said wall to promote the lns'n'cmcnt oi the vapors of? hy the material, thereto.

2% in a system of the class described, a suitable chamber, means for causing the ma tcrial to be dried to pass gradnallv through said chamber, said chamber lacing divided up into a plurality of snlietantiallv (aimed compartments, and means for appl mg different temperatures to the material in compartments, said chamber and coin 'iart ments having a roof inclined transversely to the movement of the material to promote the movement of the vapors; given oil by the material.

29. In a system for d coated falnics, a suitable chamber, ineana for causing the fahric to he dried to s radnally ihcr through, n'aeans for he ie" the fabric an it passes thrrmgh the chat er, and me fins or achnitting air at one side cf the cninihcr andrcansing it to travel over the i'ahric a zcncral horizontal 'ghtly n 'iwarrl direo ti n transversely with resgiect to the morenicnt of the fabric.

30. in a system of the CliiSEi described, a suitable chamber, means for calming the material to he dried to graduellf, therethrou h, means for heating the mal al a.

wnitahlr c a terial to ,Q'. ideal pass there tl' rs -ow irnfi loqf mnm i), A (oiintiioci 033.. on d' her and nnn"; For "'lmitting other side 0 the cit-antler and c paw; o er the Jflill'iiill ti movement of the material and toward the. condenser.

32. In a system for drying coated fabrics, a suitable chamber, means for causing the fabric to gradually paas therethrough hori zontally and means for admitting a gas at one side of the chamber and causing it to pass over the fabric in an inclined direction transversely of the movement; of the fabric.

33. ln a system of the class described, a suitahle chamber, means for calming the material to gradually pass therethrough,means f r heating the material as it passes through the chamber and causing the temperature thereof to increase as the material an proachcs the exit end of the chamber, and means for admitting a gas at one side of the chamber and causing it to pass over the matcrial transversely of the movement of the i'naterial.

34. Tu an apparatus for he drying of coated fabrics, a. rectangular chamber having a length and width relatively great as compared with its height, means for passing the coated fabric longitudinally therethrcugh, heater beneath the fahr'c, means for admitting air into the chamber at one side of the fabric, a heat insulating all at the other side of the fabric and condenser coils lying ahove said wall.

3:1 in a system of he class described, a suitable chamber, means for causing the ma- 1: l to gradually pa thcrctl'uough, means for heating the main. as it passes through the chamh; :1 iomlcnsmg means at one side of the inalci al, a wall between the material and m iltlC'liHlllg means, said condensing IHQZUIQ lying above said all and said chann hcr hcing pa -aided with a roof inclining donnwar from mid condensing? ilLLhilS and trans. weir o? the inmrment of the mat rial. and mean.- ior admitting a gas 3's. in n 5-1; in; drying" central in!) .-;nital le chamber, means for causing a mic to travel horizontally through said hnilier, means for admitting air or similar nee at one side 911 said. .zainhcr so that it it ill pass over the fabric the In cent of the fabric inclined to the fabric,

' given oil by or eimiiar medium under p transversely of in plan jacent-said sheet or strip for heating the fabric as it passes through the chamber.

38. In an apparatus of the class described, a horizontally ,arranged relatively long and thin chamber, heating means at the base of the chamber, and a container extending along one side of the chamber, said container having holes therein along its length for the emission of air or a similar medium. 39. In an apparatus of the class described, a horizontally arranged chamber, a plurality of independent heating means at the base of said'chamber for producing different temperatures in different parts of said chamber and heating means at the base or the chamber extending snbstantially the whole length thereof to tend to produce an even temncrature throughout thelength of said chamber. r

40. In an apparatus of the class descif'ilwd, a horizontally arranged chamber, a plurality of independent condensin means at one sideof said chamber for con ensing diiier ent. vap'ors at different points airing the length of said chamber, and con easing means extending substantially the whole length of the chamber at one side thereof.

41. In a system for drying coated fabrics a suitable chamber and means at one side 0 the fabric for condensing the vapors given off by the fabric, said chamber having a roof inclining transversely of the movement of the fabric to promote the movement of the vapors toward the ccndensingdneans.

42. In a system of the class described, a suitable chamber, means for heating the material to be dried in the chamber, a con-- denserat one'side of the chamber and the material being dried, said chamber having a roof inclined transversely of the movement bf the material to promote the movement of the vapors tmvard the condenser," and a Wall between said material and condensing means, said condensing means extending materially above Wall or the purposes set forth.

43. The improved process for drying imipors en oi? by the material, allowing the air or .ilar medium to escape and causing the dying to take placein an sitrnospheve' substantially saturated with the vapors given off by the n'iatcrial.

44-, The ii. wowed process for drying imitatie'n leather which con ts in ceasing the same to he passed through of gradually inc i es, onus n 5 tmnperati ing small amounts of air or similar medium to move over the material transversely of the movement thereof, condensin the vapors given off by the material an causing ing small amounts of air'or similar medium to move over the material transversely oi" th movernent thereof and causing the dryin to take place in an atmosphere substantially saturated 1th the vapors given off by the material.

The improved process for drying tatien leather which consists in cansin same to be gradually through mm; of gradually increasing terhg ing smell amounts of air or similar mesh to pass over the material transversely of the movement thereof and condensing the vapors given oil" by the material and allowing the air orsim'ilar medium to escape.

4'1. The improved process for drying imitation leather which consists in causing the same to be gradually passed through zones of gradually. increasing temperatures cans ing small amounts of air or similar medium to pass over the material transversely of the movementthereor and condensing the vagiors given 05 by the material 48. The improved JEOC es for drying tation leather which consists in causing small amounts of air or similar medium to move over the material transversely slightly inclined to the surface of the material, condensing the vapors given oft by the material, allowing the air or simier medium to escape and sensing the drying to take place in an amiosphere substantially saturated with the vapors given or? by the material.

49. The improved nrr tation leather which ca sis in I causing small amounts of similar lnedinm to move over the mat Tia! transversely and inclined to the surface of the material, ron- (lensing the vapors g en oil by the material and cans ra the drying, to take place in an strum-here si'lbstantiall s-latnrated Wltll vapors e ven oil? by the material in te men wlicr i, l have to lTVJO suhsrz'ihi ss for drying imi 

